As Alex stepped through the radiant portal, he expected the familiar glow of the exit room, perhaps a moment of respite after the brutal showdown against the twin-headed ogre.
But instead—
A cold silence.
The light faded behind him, revealing a hidden chamber, vast and circular, carved of black stone veined with glowing red lava lines. The ceiling shimmered with ancient runes, and the air itself seemed heavier, vibrating with magical tension.
At the center of the room, resting atop a molten platform, was another beast—a Twin-Headed Salamander, nearly four meters long, with obsidian-red scales that shimmered like molten metal. Its twin heads hissed in perfect sync, tongues flicking out as it locked eyes with Alex.
Its tails writhed like whips. Its four muscular legs dug into the ground.
"Tch… a secret boss?" Alex muttered, narrowing his eyes.
Without warning, the salamander lunged forward, a blur of crimson and flame.
BOOM!
